title: Health in all policies: a start in Rhode Island.
abstract: In Rhode Island, health care access, whether measured as having a regular source of care or as having health insurance, is better than the U.S. average. However, health care access does not necessarily translate into better health outcomes. Rhode Island has not fared better than the rest of the nation in ending or decreasing health disparities across socioeconomic and racial demographics in spite of improved access to quality health insurance products. In June 2011, law RIGL 23-64.1 directed the establishment of a Commission of Heath Advocacy and Equity. It requires a cross-section of state agency and community members to focus on the social determinants of health, and prepare biennial reports with public participation. The law will serve to remind the government and the public that objectives for the well-being of the population are best achieved when all sectors include health as a key component of policy development.
authors.affiliation: Clinical Assistant Professor of Family Medicine, Brown University Center for Primary Care and Prevention at Memorial Hospital of Rhode Island and Founder, Community Health Innovations of Rhode Island.
authors.forename: Dianne
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Ritchie
authors.forename: Patricia A
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Nolan
mesh_terms: D006291:Health Policy; D006297:Health Services Accessibility; D006801:Humans; D012237:Rhode Island; D064890:Social Determinants of Health
keywords: equity; health disparities; health in all policies; segregation; social determinants of health